Walcott injury blow

14 October 2012 12:17

Theo Walcott has been sent back to Arsenal with manager Roy Hodgson admitting it is not going to make him very popular with Arsene Wenger.

The FA have confirmed Walcott has been ruled out of Tuesday's trip to Poland after being clattered by San Marino goalkeeper Aldo Simoncini at Wembley on Friday.

"It was a particularly brutal challenge on Theo that has caused him quite a considerable injury," said Hodgson. "It's never very satisfying as a national coach when a player who has been on international duty has to go back to his club with a serious injury."

Whilst the FA have confirmed Walcott has a chest injury, it will only be after his return to Arsenal that Wenger will discover if the winger is facing an extended period on the sidelines.

Wenger has never been a particular fan of the international game, it is not hard to imagine what his reaction will be to losing one of his players in a game many feel was pointless anyway.

If Walcott is not Hodgson's concern now, the England boss will be eager to discover whether Frank Lampard's knee injury has responded to treatment sufficiently to allow him to be considered for Tuesday's crucial trip to Poland.

With Steven Gerrard and Glen Johnson back from suspension, Joleon Lescott, James Milner and Jermain Defoe no longer excused as they are one match away from a ban, and no need to play safe with Ashley Cole's ankle injury, it could be a very different England side on show in Warsaw.

Yet, as hard as it appeared in a game so one-sided, Hodgson claimed to also have learned valuable lessons at Wembley during the game.

"The passing of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley was outstanding," he said.

"I did tell the players before the game there would be mistakes because they were going to have so much of the ball, make so many passes, go on so many dribbles."